History

Intent

This document outlines the intent and rationale behind the History curriculum, how to deliver it and how to measure pupil progress. This information helps to create our school’s bespoke Intent, Implementation and Impact statement.

We are not makers of history…We are made by history. -Martin Luther King Jnr.

Our school’s curriculum intent takes into consideration:

• The ethos, vision, and values of our school.
• The specific areas of development for our school.
• Relevant national strategies.
• What we want our children to learn.

At Our Lady’s we see History as a chance to enthuse and inspire children to understand the world around them. Helping them to develop the understanding that as the world appears to grow smaller History is not just events happening somewhere else, but in Britain as a whole and also in their own locality.

Although October is Black History Month, we at Our Lady’s, do not celebrate Black History exclusively in this month. We celebrate Black History throughout the year linking it to learning objectives in different subject areas. We want our pupils to recognise that British History is multicultural and this is reflected in the resources and materials we use. For example; Imperial war Museum resources reflect the contributions of Black and Asian people during the World Wars and after. We then continue to make links with sport using Walter Tull and his contribution to World War 1, his achievements and the inspiration he gives to others. At Our Lady’s we also choose various writing genres and topics to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people to global and local events. People such as Walter Tull, Kathryn Johnson, Serena Williams, Mary Seacole, Benjamin Zephaniah, Chris Ofili, Lemn Sissay and many other inspirational people.

Through our History Curriculum we:

• encourage children to think critically by asking questions about perceptions of the past.

• actively engage pupils’ interests through trips, workshops, projects and hands-on exploration of artefacts to enable children to explain and analyse historical evidence.

• develop the skills of a historian. We aim to ensure children are ready for further education and life in the wider world, with an awareness of how history has both directly and indirectly affected the way we live our lives today, as well as the changes we can make because of it.

Studying History allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, supporting children to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s past mistakes. Our Lady's History scheme aims to support pupils in building their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of History. We hope to develop pupils’ understanding of how historians study the

past and construct accounts and the skills to carry out their own historical enquiries. In order to prepare pupils for their future learning in History.  Our History curriculum aims to introduce them to key substantive concepts including power, invasion, settlement and migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of humankind, society and culture. Our

History scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of Key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum and it also aims to align with those set out in the National curriculum. For EYFS, the activities allow pupils to

work towards the Understanding the world Development matters statements and Early learning goals, while also covering foundational knowledge that will support them in their further history learning in Key stage 1.

Implementation

The implementation of the curriculum relates to how the learning is going to be delivered across our school, taking the intent of the learning and translating it into a progressive and effective curriculum. When using this scheme at Our Lady’s, the majority of this aspect is taken care of.

All learning will start by revisiting prior knowledge. This will be scaffolded to support children to recall previous learning and make connections. Staff will model explicitly the subject-specific vocabulary, knowledge and skills relevant to the learning to allow them to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.

High quality history lessons will inspire pupils to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians, understanding their role in time. Our Children start this journey in EYFS where they will explore and see themselves as individuals with a past, by looking at their own lives and that of their families. At the earliest point they are encouraged to communicate historically using the past tense to explain events using photographs, objects and pictures.

In Key Stage One, children will learn about significant events, periods and

individuals, including Rosa Parks, The Fire of London, Homes, Toys and events in the local area. They will place these events on a timeline, developing their sense of chronology.

In Key Stage Two children the historical journey continues through topics such as, Stone Age, Early Civilizations, Romans, Iron Age, Anglo Saxons, The Vikings, ancient Greece, Migration, Early Islamic civilisation, and both World Wars alongside other local history topics.

Throughout our curriculum, children develop their understanding of the following key disciplinary concepts:

• Change and continuity.
• Cause and consequence.
• Similarities and differences.
• Historical significance.
• Historical interpretations.
• Sources of evidence.

Concepts are continually revisited in each year group, the subject matter changes allowing pupils to create strong schemas (which support long term memory) whilst also covering a wide range of topics.

KS1 and KS2, history is taught on a weekly basis, for a block of approximately 6-8 weeks each term, this will alternate with Geography. Teachers will carry out ongoing formative assessments to inform their end of unit assessment around the identified key knowledge. Each class has the same timeline on display, as children move up through the school more and more key historical periods will be added to the timeline.  

Our historians are given a variety of first-hand experiences to support and develop their learning as historians. Their historical experiences include a variety of activities, visitors and trips designed to create memorable learning opportunities, further support and develop their understanding and skills.

Impact

The impact of our history curriculum can be seen in the children’s work, the way they communicate when explaining topics covered through pupil voice and in their use of relevant vocabulary related to each historical period. The history units studied will have links to other curriculum areas, allowing children to demonstrate their understanding through a variety of mediums and in different contexts. At Our Lady’s we want children to be confident communicators and enthusiastic historians when sharing their learning.

Children’s knowledge is assessed informally during lessons, adapting and modifying next steps accordingly. At the end of each unit, teachers will assess the ‘key essential knowledge’.

By the end of their education at Our Lady’s, children will have acquired a solid overview of their local history, and also the connections between Britain and the wider world. This understanding will help them to become tolerant and informed members of their communities, as well as active members of a society with a rich and interconnected historical heritage.